JOLIET – A Joliet man’s alleged scheme to hold a stolen car ransom not only failed but ended with him fending off a dog after hiding from police in a garage, authorities said.

The start of a long day for Everett T. Cole Jr., 36, of the 1300 block of Cutter Avenue, began Tuesday morning at the McDonald’s at 4280 W. Jefferson St. when he stole the car of a customer who had gone inside for a meal, Joliet Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory said.

The customer had left his car running and the restaurant’s manager reportedly noticed Cole, who had been sitting in the restaurant for about two hours before the theft occurred. When the customer received his food, he realized his car was gone.

Later that evening, Cole contacted the customer and told him he would return his car in exchange for money, Gregory said. Gregory did not know how Cole contacted the man. The exchange was supposed to take place in the 200 block of south Larkin Avenue.

Police officers were notified of the scheme and waited at the location at about 11:30 p.m., Gregory said. When Cole arrived in the customer’s car and saw the police were coming after him, he drove away and the officers chased after him.

The car chase turned into a foot chase when in the 1600 block of Marquette Road, Cole abandoned the car and hid inside a nearby garage, Gregory said. The officers commanded Cole numerous times to come out after finding he was the garage, Gregory said.

When Cole did not, Gregory said they released a police dog inside the garage to apprehend him as the officers did not know if Cole was armed. Gregory said the dog bit Cole and Cole had to be treated at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center as a result.

After his treatment at the hospital, Cole was arrested and charged with aggravated feeling, resisting a police officer, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, driving on a revoked license and criminal damage to property.